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Writing and Design: Christopher Walz
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Editing: Patrick Higingbotham

(www.nonzerosumgames.com)
Layout: Travis Legge
Cover Artist: Jack Badashski
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Interior Artists: Daniel Comerci – danielcomerci.com

Some artwork © 2018 Dean Spencer, used with
permission. All rights reserved.
Cartographers: Emmet Byrne (The Bloody Grin)
Dyson Logos (The Silver Bastion)
This product was created under license. SCARRED LANDS and its logo, and Slarecian VAULT and its logo, are trademarks of Onyx Path Publishing.
All Scarred Lands setting material, art, and trade dress are the property of Onyx Path Publishing. www.theonyxpath.com
This work contains material that is copyright Onyx Path Publishing. Such material is used with permission under the Community Content Agreement
for “Slarecian Vault” Community Content. All other original material in this work is copyright 2018 by CHRISTOPHER WALZ and published under the
Community Content Agreement for “Slarecian Vault” Community Content.

2 Tides of Blood
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Introduction
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Tides of Blood is an adventure designed for 4 or 5 characters
of 6th level, although it provides scaling suggestions for
weaker or stronger parties. The adventure focuses on all
Adventure
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three pillars of play: social interaction, exploration, and

combat. The characters will have to face the horrors of the
Blood Sea, and, through their own grit and a bit of luck,
may live to see Ghelspad’s shores once again.
The module might serve as a starting point for adventures
in and around Mithril, the beginnings of a seafaring
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Background
Menthias Dolgutha (LG human priest of Corean) has
received a vision of the Silver Bastion, a fortress used by
the knightly Order of the Silver Shield during the Divine
War, rising from the Blood Sea. Searching Mithril’s libraries,

campaign, or simply as a standalone adventure inserted
into a larger campaign on Ghelspad. See Concluding the
Adventure for ideas on how to continue the story.
Scarn is a dangerous place and the Blood Sea is one of its
deadliest regions. This adventure is difficult and may feel
impossible at times. If the characters see the other side of
their journey, they will have truly earned the title of hero.
The following sections offer background information, a
synopsis of the module, notes on preparing for and running
the adventure, and hooks to help you get the adventure
started.
the priest discovered the fortress was built before the titan
Kadum was defeated and imprisoned at the depths of the
sea. The Silver Bastion was overrun with titanspawn as
the last remaining knights stayed behind, allowing others
to retreat to the mainland.
The crimson tides are unusually low and the gleaming
fortress can be seen once again. Menthias believes the
fortress still holds the Brightshield, a magical item thought to
be touched by Corean himself. Meanwhile, the Heartseekers
of Kadum, a cult loyal to the titan, have secured the fortress.
They know the ruin still houses powerful relics and fear
they may embolden Corean’s faithful if recovered.

Introduction 3
 Text that appears like this is meant to be read aloud or
Adventure paraphrased.

Overview Text that appears like this speaks directly to the

The adventure is broken into three chapters:
• Chapter 1: Gleaming Visions. The characters
meet with Menthias Dolgutha, a Coreanic priest,
in Mithril. The priest has received visions of a lost
Game Master (GM). These sidebars contain rules
reminders, roleplaying hints, and other information.
For general information on Corean, Kadum, and Mithril,
see the Scarred Lands Player’s Guide, chapters 1 and 8.
For detailed information on Mithril, see Mithril: City of the

fortress rising from the bloody waters.
• Chapter 2: On Waves of Blood. Under the employ of
Menthias, the characters board The Bloody Grin and
begin a journey on the Blood Sea. The characters must
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Golem, a sourcebook for version 3.5 fantasy roleplaying. For
detailed information on the Blood Sea and the Heartseekers
of Kadum, see Blood Sea: The Crimson Abyss, a sourcebook
for version 3.5 fantasy roleplaying.

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contend with dangerous titanspawn and the sea itself
in order to arrive their destination. A crewmember
hatches a treacherous plot to inform the Heartseekers Adventure
•
of Kadum of the characters’ plans.
Chapter 3: The Silver Bastion. Arriving at the
Hooks
Here are a few ideas to engage your characters with the
Silver Bastion, the characters find the fortress invaded
adventure. Feel free to use these or create your own.
by piscean and human cultists loyal to Kadum, the
Bleeding One. Low Tides, High Risk. While traveling on Ghelspad, the

Preparation e characters hear reports of the Blood Sea suddenly shifting

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You should read through this module before running it.
While the first and third chapters are straightforward, the
seafaring second chapter has many random events that
could occur. Becoming acquainted with these ensures a
smooth experience for everyone at your table. Remember,
this is your story to tell. Everything herein is merely an
idea for you to mold.
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to a lower tide. Blood Sea mutants and other titanspawn
have been washing ashore as adventurers and treasure
hunters flock to coastal cities, such as Mithril, in search
of gold and glory.
Tales of Silver. A Coreanic missionary approaches the
characters after hearing of their recent deeds. She tells
them about Menthias, a priest in the holy city of Mithril,
and his quest to uncover a lost holy relic. He is in need of
brave souls and strong sword arms.
The Bloody Shield. A good-aligned character receives a

This adventure assumes you have access to the corebooks holy vision. They see a gleaming silver shield emblazoned
for the 5th Edition of the world’s greatest roleplaying game with Corean’s holy symbol awash in blood. Its light fades
and the Scarred Lands Player’s Guide (SLPG). Creature under the crimson deluge. The vision ends with a scene
and nonplayer character names appear in bold. Magic items of Mithril, Corean’s famed golem resting in the distance.
and spells appear in italics. Magic items found as treasure
appear in both bold and italics.
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Many encounters have scaling suggestions for Weak or

Strong parties. If you have 5th-level characters or a party
of 3, consider using the Weak scaling suggestions. If you
have 7th-level characters or a party of 6, consider using
the Strong scaling suggestions. Random encounters at
sea do not have scaling suggestions due to the presence
of allied NPCs.
Appendix A contains stat blocks for new creatures and
NPCs. Appendix B contains information on magic items.
Appendix C contains maps used in the module.

4 Tides of Blood

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Gleaming
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Visions
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his chapter details the characters meeting Menthias
Dolgutha, the Coreanic priest seeking the Silver
Bastion, and an attack on the Harbor City docks.
Mithril is a city built on opposition. The Temple City,
alight in the gleaming radiance of Corean’s mithril golem,
is home to the learned and affluent priesthood of the god’s
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Adamantine Church. Below, along the Blood Sea’s shore,
the poor citizens of the Harbor City answer to lawless
thugs and corrupt merchants looking to squeeze every
copper from Mithril.
As the characters travel through the sections of the city,
note how the atmosphere changes. In the Temple City, priests
stand in the streets debating the finer points of Coreanic
theology and squabble over political minutiae as paladins
in unmarred plate mail guard the wealthy. In the Harbor
City, the poor beg for coppers from one another, drunks
fight in the street, and crimson waves crash on the shoreline.
The characters may want to learn more about Menthias.
If the characters spend a day asking about the priest in
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Mithril and make a Charisma (Investigation) check, they
learn the following information based on their result. Each
level is cumulative:
• 10-14. Menthias is well known in the Westside (or
Stormside) of Harbor City for tending to the poor.
He is known to minster even to those who outwardly
speak against Coreanic values. He keeps a small temple
near the pier. He recently placed The Bloody Grin, a
privateering ship, on retainer for reasons unknown.
• 15-19. The priest is called Old Goldheart for his
generosity toward Mithril’s poor. He carries a wicked
scar across his face; a parting gift from a titanspawn.
• 20 or higher. A decade ago, Menthias routed a corrupt
priest from the Temple City who was funneling mithril
to the Calastian Hegemony. Soon after, Menthias
was transitioned to Westside. Many believe he still
has unseen enemies within the Adamantine Church.
Gleaming Visions 5
 Meeting
Menthias
The adventure begins as the characters approach
Menthias’s humble temple in the Harbor City. When you
are ready to begin, read or paraphrase:
The bustling streets of Harbor City are laden with
shouting merchants and the smell of fish and blood. A
squat temple stands before you, its iron doors, engraved
with Corean’s symbol, are flung open. Inside is a middle-
aged human man with dark, sun-beaten skin and more
white than black in his hair who tends to the altar.
Menthias Dolgutha (LG male human priest of Corean)
and 4 acolytes tend to this small temple in Harbor City’s
violent Westside. At any time there is a 50% chance there
are 1d4 commoners and 1d4 thugs praying in the temple.
Menthias happily meets with the characters if they express
interest in helping him, guiding them to his quarters behind
the sanctuary.
The Offer. Menthias pays each character 250 gp and
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gifts the party 2 mithril weapons (SLPG 163) if they travel
to the exposed ruin and return with any Coreanic relics.
The priest is interested in items of religious or historical
significance. The characters are welcome to claim any
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other treasure, as long as its retrieval does not disrespect
the holy site.
If the characters try to haggle with Menthias and succeed
on a DC 18 Charisma (Persuasion) check, he offers to
scribe a single spell scroll containing a 2nd-level cleric
spell. If the characters succeed on a DC 20 Charisma
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(Persuasion) check, they convince Menthias to part with
half of the gold immediately. Characters who worship
Corean have advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks
made against Menthias.
The Silver Bastion. Menthias is forthcoming with what
he knows about the Silver Bastion. His knowledge of the
lost fortress includes:
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• It was home to the Knightly Order of the Silver
Shield, whose ideals would later form the Order of
Silver. The order dedicated themselves to training the
commonfolk to be soldiers in the Divine War.
• The fortress fell before the end of the war, overrun
by a lesser titan and its titanspawn. Several attempts
were made to reclaim the Silver Bastion, but all failed.
• After Kadum was imprisoned, the rising waters of
what is now the Blood Sea engulfed the Silver Bastion.
The Adamantine Church has not led a serious effort
to explore or recover the ruin.
6 Tides of Blood
The Brightshield. Menthias does not mention the
Brightshield by name unless the majority of the party
outwardly worship Corean or are known for acts of heroic
valor. If the characters succeed on a DC 18 Intelligence
(History or Religion) check they recall that a shield said
to be used by Corean himself was kept in the fort.
Braving the Blood Sea. Menthias tells the characters he
has commissioned The Bloody Grin to ferry the characters
to and from the Silver Bastion. He claims that while the
privateer crew does not fit the Coreanic ideal, they have
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protected Mithril’s harbors for years.
The priest provides the characters with a map
approximating the Silver Bastion’s location and says it
should take four days at sea, but the Blood Sea is often
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unpredictable.
Roleplaying
Menthias
Menthias plays a significant role in Tides of Blood
and may become a recurrent NPC in your campaign.
Use these notes to help bring him to life.
Description. Menthias is a middle-aged human
male with short, cropped hair reminiscent of a
militaristic life. His black beard, highlighted with
streaks of silver, is broken by a thick, raised scar
running along his left cheek.
Characteristics. Menthias always carries a warm
smile and greets everyone with a firm handshake.
Ideal. Duty. The greatest aspiration is to serve
others with honesty and courage.
Bond. I will die for the Adamantine Church.
Flaw. I hold Corean’s faithful, including myself, to
an impossible standard.
Developments
Just as the meeting is coming to a close, the temple doors
fly open as a panicked dock worker shouts, “Help! Help
us! Blood tainted are attacking the docks!” Menthias draws
a gleaming mithril longsword from a weathered scabbard
resting against his desk and rushes out of the temple.
 Mutants at the Adjusting this
Docks Encounter
As the characters approach, read or paraphrase: Here are some suggestions for adjusting this
encounter for your group.
A throng of sailors, dockworkers, and merchants rush Weak. Remove 1 sahuagin and 1 reef shark.
past you, clamoring and shouting. Along the pier you
see a group of sea devils with blood-red scales shove a Strong. Increase the sahuagins’ hit points by 7

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commoner into the water. In a flurry of fins, teeth, and each.
gore, the man is pulled underwater.

The main pier is 80 feet long and 15 feet wide. It is 10

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feet from the water’s surface. If a character falls or is pulled
from the pier, they take 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage from
the fall. The water is 15 feet deep.
The water here has trace amounts of blood contamination
and is not an immediate danger. Many smaller docks branch
out from the central pier. Large crates and merchant stalls
litter the area, providing ample opportunities for cover. A
variety of ships, from small fishing boats to large galleons,
are docked here, most only with a skeleton crew onboard.

Creatures and Tactics e

Five Blood Sea mutant, sahuagin and 3 Blood Sea
mutant, reef sharks (see appendix A) are attacking the
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pier. The sharks are in the water, waiting for prey to fall
off the pier. There are 1d10 + 2 commoners still on the
pier when the characters arrive.
Sensing a formidable enemy, the mutants attack the
characters. The sahuagin attempt to Shove characters off
the pier. Menthias fights alongside the party, but prefers
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to tend to injured commoners.

The mutants fight to the death. If the characters retreat,
the mutants continue attacking commoners.

Developments
Menthias is familiar with blood fever (see the sidebar
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below for more information) and cures as many characters

as he can using lesser restoration. He urges the characters
to meet captain Eurybia Tenthos of The Bloody Grin as
soon as possible.
If the characters save all of the commoners on the pier,
a group of Harbor City merchants rewards the characters
with 20 gp and a potion of healing.
Proceed to chapter 2 when you are ready to introduce
the ship.

Gleaming Visions 7